chapter 1
Autumn 1998. KRASNODAR.
On a rainy morning, ARISTARKH (20) and SNEZHANA (20) cross an empty secondary road with tram tracks on a green light. Suddenly, a car from the adjacent alley speeds out, hits them, and drives off. The impact is from the side of ARISTARKH. He falls on Snezhana in the momentum. SNEZHANA falls on the asphalt and hits her temple on the tram rail. She loses consciousness. Through the fog, ARISTARKH sees the car's license plate and a woman behind the wheel who briefly stops to ensure the successful payback and quickly drives away. ARISTARKH looks at the bleeding Snezhana lying next to him and also loses consciousness.
END OF FLASHFORWARD
The camera shows the facade of the music school in the city of Petropavlovsk, North Kazakhstan region.
Summer 1995. Three years earlier
Students of the brass department, trombonist ARISTARKH, trumpeter FRITZ, clarinetist WINT and Percussionist (drums) BALL are lying hungry in their room on the fourth male floor on their beds. FRITZ is lying down with his shoes on.
ARISTARKH
Guys, we have to wait another week for the final exam of the year in our specialty. Maybe we should do something cool?
WINT
Hey, ARISTARKH, they've already settled some female applicants on the third floor. They put the male applicants in the orchestra hall. They probably have money. FRITZ, go and shake them down for some cash.
FRITZ
(Laughing)
You're kidding, WINT? Are you trying to avoid it? Get off your ass and go yourself or let's all go together.
BALL
(Tenderly)
How about I go? I'll be quick.
ARISTARKH gets up from the bed.
ARISTARKH
No BALL, you don't have the guts to shake them down for cash. You better go get some beer later, and the three of us will go to the applicants now. Maybe something will work out.
ARISTARKH walks to the door and exits. WINT and FRITZ stand up and follow ARISTARKH.
The camera shows the building of Kuban State University.
SNEZHANA sits in her room at the easel and paints a landscape with colors. Her mother enters the room.
SNEZHANA’S MOTHER
(Surprised)
You're spouting this nonsense again?
(CONTINUED)
SNEZHANA’S MOTHER (continuing)
(Calm down)
Listen, sweetheart, you can do this as a hobby, but your duty is to continue our family business. Your late father wanted this, so you must first finish university.
